Hands-Free Self-Balancing Insulated Beverage Holder

ABSTRACT

An improved beverage holder, for receiving a container or vessel, which is thermally insulative, connected to a lanyard for wear around the neck or to be hung from an object making the apparatus self-balancing. The device consists of an insulated sleeve with a lanyard attached to either side. In the middle of the lanyard is a standard length-adjustment device for shortening or lengthening the lanyard as the user desires.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus for insulating beverage containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional disposable beverage container has historically been constructed from metal or glass. A number of inventions in years past have sought to solve different problems that arise while the person is consuming the beverage. For example, the ambient outdoor temperature could be so hot as to quickly warm a beverage better enjoyed at a lower temperature. Conversely an ice chest or refrigerator could be so cold where the metal of the can (or glass of the bottle) could reach a temperature so cold as to be uncomfortable to the end user's bare hand. Due to the size and shape of these containers they exhibit a poor center of gravity and are therefore unstable causing them to be easily spilled, especially in the active environments where these beverages are often consumed. Often those people with beverages need to use both hands and must set their beverage container down in order to do so. They may be at a backyard barbecue, a park, in their shop, on the beach, or on a watercraft. Using the hands-free self-balancing insulated beverage sleeve will allow the end-user to keep their beverage on their person while using both hands for whatever is needed of them, while minimizing the spillage of their beverage. If a boater is on a boat without this device, he or she must use both hands to reel in a fish or hoist an anchor and must typically first set the beverage down where it is subject to spilling if the boat is rocking and/or crowded. Using said device allows he or she to stand erect or bend over while having full use of both hands, while the device swings into a self-balancing position that minimizes beverage spillage. If at an indoor or outdoor social gathering without the device, that beverage will likely be set where it may be spilled or become misidentified with the number of other beverages that have also been set down. Using said device will eliminate spillage and misidentification of beverage. The hands-free self-balancing insulated beverage sleeve frees people to have their beverage near with minimized spillage while doing other tasks such as yard work, cooking, cleaning, playing musical instruments, camping, BBQ'ing, boating, etc.

In order to address these problems different inventions have been used to retain the desired temperature of the can while providing a comfortable grip to the end user. The common example of this being the polystyrene beverage container known as a coozie, cozie, huggies, or beer jackets. None of these inventions address the all too common problem of where to set the beverage down when you need to do something else or, in a crowded environment, to identify which beverage is the one you set down. They also do not address the possibility of spilling the beverage due to bumps or carelessness.

In view of these problems and with a desire for the improvement of the device it is a purpose of the herein described invention to address one or more of such desires as well as, or in the alternative, other needs, which will become more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the present disclosure.

SUMMARY OF CERTAIN EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, this invention relates to apparatus or devices (or methods for using such devices or apparatus), which provide personal beverage container carrying and/or insulating capabilities.

An apparatus is provided comprising: a container constructed of a cylindrically formed wall of insulative material, the cylindrical container having an equal diameter between top and bottom where the bottom is closed and the top is open. A lanyard is attached to either side of the sleeve. In the middle of the lanyard is a standard length-adjustment device for shortening or lengthening the lanyard as the user desires.

Certain examples of the invention are now described below with respect to certain non-limiting embodiments as illustrated in the following drawings herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EXAMPLE DRAWINGS

The drawings submitted with and which form a part of this patent application each illustrate an embodiment, or one or more components of an embodiment, of a non-limiting example of Applicant's invention. While these drawings depict certain preferred embodiments of Applicant's invention, as well certain particularly desirable features thereof, they are intended to be examples only and should not be construed to limit the scope of Applicant's invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the Hands-free self-balancing insulated beverage holder according to the subject invention, for carrying a beverage container, shown without beverage container.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the Hands-free self-balancing insulated beverage holder according to the subject invention, for carrying a beverage container, shown with a can-type beverage container.

FIG. 3 illustrates the embodiment of the apparatus in use around the human neck from the front with a can-type beverage container.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN NON-LIMITING EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is now made to the following description of various illustrative and non-limiting embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate like features.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a non-limiting, example embodiment of the inventive apparatus is depicted therein. Generally speaking, the apparatus illustrated in this figure comprises a beverage container carrying apparatus constructed from a cylindrically-formed wall 1, which itself is preferrably formed from an insulative material such as polystryene, neoprene or rubber (other material types, are, of course, acceptable). As may be seen in these figures openings 2 and 3 are positioned opposite one another on opposing sides of the apparatus 1. Connecting openings 2 and 3 is a lanyard 6 preferably formed from nylon or cotton (other synthetic or natural material types, are, of course, acceptable) with two loops 4 and 5 running between each opening 2 and 3. In the middle of the lanyard 6 is a standard length-adjustment device 7, for shortening or lengthening as the user desires.

FIG. 2 shows the same as FIG. 1 with a beverage container 8.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a non-limiting, example embodiment of the inventive apparatus is depicted around the human neck holding a beverage container 8. The adjustable lanyard 6 is positioned such that the apparatus can remain level and balanced while providing hands-free use to the user.

Once given the above disclosure, many other features, modifications, and improvements will become apparent to the skilled artisan. Such features, modifications, and improvements are therefore considered to be part of this invention, without limitation imposed by the example embodiments described herein. Moreover, any word, term, phrase, feature, example, embodiment, or part or combination thereof, as used to describe or exemplify embodiments herein, unless unequivocally set forth as expressly uniquely defined or otherwise unequivocally set forth as limiting, is not intended to impart a narrowing scope to the invention in contravention of the ordinary meaning of the claim terms by which the scope of the patent property rights shall otherwise be determined: 

We claim:
 1. Apparatus comprising: a cylindrical container constructed of a wall of insulative material where the top end is open and bottom is closed so that it receives a beverage container or vessel, being connected to a lanyard within the vicinity of the open end of the cylinder so that the beverage can hang from the neck of a human. A lanyard length-adjustment device allows for the adjustment of the length of the lanyard. 